Teething device



J. W. ERRINGER TEETHING DEVICE Filed April 22, 1929 Oct. 15, 1929.

Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES JAMES W. ERRINGER, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS TEETHING DEVICE Appucanrm mea April 22,

This invention relates to devices for use in treating inflammation ofthe mouth and throat where dry cold or other applications are indicated,and is particularly adapted for use as a teething device for infants.

The main object of the invention is to produce a teething device whichshall not only be yielding, but cooling tothe gums, so as to reduceinflammation and suffering without v the cooling medium being absorbedby the stomach of the infant.

A further object is to so construct the device that it may be held bythe infant without chilling the hands.

vice that the part which will beheld in the mouth and pressed betweenthe gums will not collapse and will present yielding but desirably firm,pressure-resisting surfaces, to

aid the teething operation.

Another feature of the invention is the means for closing the openingthrough which the device may be filled with ice or other treatmentmedium.

l/Vhen used to allay inflammation of the gums due to teething, thenipple shown is particularly desirable for the reason that 1t 1sdesigned to provide a maximum of contact surface for the inflamed partsto engage, whereby the effectiveness of the treatment is increased. y

While I have shown my invention as embodied in a device moreparticularly adapted for use in allaying inflammation of infants gumsdue to teething and for a ssistingthe process of dentition withoutinJury to the parts, it is to be understood that the invention may beused in the treatment of stomatitis, tonsilitis and post operations inthe oral cavity and throat.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a teething device embodyingmy invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section. Y

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3,

showing the cross section of the neck of the nipple when the gum contactsurfaces have been pressed toward each other.

A further ob'ect is to so construct the de- 1929. Serial No. 356,923.

Vrow side walls 7. VBelow the walls 6 and 7 of the neck, the' nipplegradually becomes substantially circular in cross section andV widensoutwardly until it merges into the container body. Preferably thesurfaces 6 are curved to conform to the shape of the gums when thenipple is held in the mouth.

If desired, one or more ribs 8 may be formed at the top of the containerbody 9, which is substantially cylindrical and terminates in a bead 10which surrounds the lower open end.

Externally of the body 9, and lextending longitudinally andsubstantially from the top to the bottom of the body, between the ribs 8and bead 10, are a plurality of radially directed fins 11. The functionof the fins is to prevent direct contact of the infants hands with thesurface of the container 9, and to make it comfortable for the infant tohold the device when filled with ice.

The walls 6 of the neck of the nipple are provided on their innersurfaces 12 witha plurality of inwardly directed teeth 13. The c teethon each side of the surfaces 12 are 85 spaced apart from each other adistance substantially equal to the width of av tooth, and the teeth onone surface 12 are positioned so as to be opposite the spaces 14 betweenthe teeth on the opposite surfaces 12. When the surfaces 6 are pressedbetween the gums of the infant using the device, the teeth 13 assume theposition shown in Figure 4C and the nipple will be prevented fromcollapsing, and at the same time, firm, though yielding,pressure-resisting surfaces are presented for the gums of the infant tocontact with, whereby teething is facilitated.

`To close the open flower end of the container, a closure button 15 isprovided. It 100 comprises a disk having a circumferential groove 16 inits edge, about midway betweeny moisture-proof fit is secured betweenthev closure button and container'.

The treatment medium, in this instance ice, is indicated at 20.

Changes may be made in details of cerstruction without departing fromthe scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention :v

l. A teething device comprising` an imperforate nipple, a cooling mediumcontainer in communication with the interior of said nipple, having anopening in the container for the reception of cooling medium, and meansfor closing said opening, the head of the nipple being narrower in onedimension than in. the other and having two oppositely positioned,relatively wide and flat guinecontact surfaces connected together bynarrower side walls.

2. A teething device comprising an impeiforate nipple, a cooling` mediumcontainer in communication with the interior of said nipple, having anopening in the container for the reception of cooling medium, and meansfor closing said opening, the head of the nipple being narrower in onedimension than in the other and havingtwo oppositely positioned,relatively wide and flat gum-contact surfaces connected together bynarrower side walls, said contact walls having a plurality of inwardlydirected teeth on their inner surfaces.

3. A teething device comprising an iinperforate nipple, a cooling mediumcontainer in communication with the interior of said nipple, having anopening in the container for the reception of cooling n'iediuin, andmeans for closing said opening, said nipple having a plurality ofhorizontally disposed, `inwardly directed, spaced apart teeth on theinner surfaces of opposite walls, the teeth on one wallbeing oppositethe spaces between the teeth on the opposite wall.

A1A teething device comprising an iinperforate nipple, a cooling mediumcontainer in communication with the interior of said nipple, having anopening in the container for the reception of cooling medium, and meansfor closing said opening, the container having a plurality of radiallydirected, longitudinally extending fins on its outer surface, the headof the nipple being narrower in one dimension than in the other, andhaving two oppositely positioned, relatively wide and flat gum-contactwalls connected together by narrower sidewalls, and a plurality ofinwardly-directed teeth on the inner surfaces of said contact walls.

6. A teething device comprising an i1n' perfoiate nipple, a coolingmedium container in communication with the inteiior of said nipple,having an opening in the container for the reception of cooling medium,and means for closing said opening, the container having a plurality ofradially directed, longitudinally extending ns on its outer surface,said nipple having' a plurality of horizontally disposed, inwardlydirected, spaced apart teeth on the inner surfaces of opposite walls,the teeth on one wall being opposite the spaces between the teeth ontheopposite wall.

. 7. A teething device comprising an Vimperforate nipple and a coolingmedium container in communication withvthe interior of said nipple, thecontainer having an opening perforate nipple and a cooling mediumcontainer integral with the nipple and made of yielding materiahsuch asrubber, thecontainer having an opening for the reception of the coolingmedium, and means for closing said opening, said closing meansconiprsing a disk of non-yielding material liaving a groovein its edgein which the bottoni of the container may be seater 9. A teething devicecomprising an iinperforate nippleand a cooling medium' containerintegral with the nipple and made of Vyielding material, such as rubber,the container having an opening for the reception of the coolingmediuin,radially directed, longitudinally extending fins, formed integrally withthe bodyV member on its outer surface, and means for closing saidopening, said closing means comprising a disk of nonvyielding materialhaving a groove in its edge in which the bottom of the container may beseated.

In testimony, that I, claimt-he foregoing as my invention, laiiix mysignature, this 18th day of April, 1929. i

JAMES W. ERRDTGER.

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